This course began as a Modes of Thought course in the New Curriculum adopted at Brown University in 1969-70, based on the idea that each professor has deep in his or her own heart some key ideas that first spurred interest in the subject that became a life's work. Furthermore, these ideas can be shared to good effect with a group of students primarily interested in other concentrations who are open to new approaches and who are willing to explore ideas with the professor and the other students in the course.